Good tyres are crucial to the safety of your car, so it is imperative to establish a regular maintenance routine. Follow these handy tips to extend the life of your tyres and to keep you comfortable and protected on the road.

Maintain Correct Tyre Pressure It is imperative that you inflate your tyres correctly. Look out for the tyre placard, usually located on the fuel filter flap, door edge or glove box, that notes the correct pressure.

Both over-inflating and under-inflating your tyres can lead to damage, and both also affect the drivability of your car. If you under-inflate a tyre, more of the tyre surface is rolling along the road. As the tyre is over flexing, this can damage the internal structure; the tyre also is more prone to overheating. The increased rolling resistance on the road makes your car heavy to steer and increases petrol usage.

While under-inflated tyres wear on the outside, over-inflated tyres wear down the centre. Tyres that are over-inflated are more susceptible to damage from potholes and road obstructions. Over-inflated tyres do not readily absorb bumps from the road and so create a jarring driving experience. 

Check Tyres Regularly You should inspect tyre pressure weekly or fortnightly with an accurate tyre gauge. Check when the tyres are cold, as the pressure increases once the tyres warm up through driving. If you have to drive to a service area, make the trip a short one.

It is important also to check the tyre tread for wear and tear. Don't allow the tread depth to get less than 2 or 3mm. Most tyres have depth tread indicators that are 1.6mm deep. If the overall tread is flush with the tread indicators, this means that the tyre is too worn and is dangerous to drive on.

Another sign of trouble is uneven tread wear which can indicate wheel alignment or suspension problems. Inspect the side wall for bulges that suggest internal damage as this makes blowouts more likely.

Check The Age Of Your Tyres Some tyre manufacturers recommend against using tyres older than five or six years regardless of wear, as over time tyre composition deteriorates due to sunlight and heat. You can find out a  tyre's age by checking the eight digit Tyre Identification Number (TIN); the last four digits indicate the date of manufacture. For instance, the numbers 2312 indicate that the tyre was made in the twenty-third week of the year 2012.

Maintaining the correct tyre pressure and regularly checking their condition will help to preserve the life of your tyres, so delaying the time when they need replacing. When you do require new tyres, make sure to shop around to get the best deal and to get your tyres for less.